Update:
The number of coronavirus infections associated with the Wr. Neustadt cluster around the Free Church Pentecostal Church of God rose on Thursday from nine to 22 on the previous day. There are now 38 cases in the slaughterhouse cluster.
https://noe.orf.at/stories/3058179/
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The next "great" idea from Politics:
Kids/Childs can go to the Kindergarten,even they have "a Sniff/Cold".
https://orf.at/stories/3173549/
"Better with a cold in kindergarten"
The summer vacation has only just begun, but the uncertainty of how everyday life in kindergartens and schools will continue in autumn hangs like a sword of Damocles over many parents. On the one hand, groups of children can be closed quickly from one day to the next if there is a suspected CoV case. On the other hand, some kindergarten operators require clarification from the pediatrician even with slight cooling.
Sick children have to stay at home. But with colds and fever of (small) children there is a lot of room for interpretation. The decision as to whether it was a cold or a suspected CoV case was a "balancing act" for both parents and kindergartens, according to the Wiener Kinderfreunde, operators of around 140 kindergartens: "Every suspected case must be clarified, that is because Responsibility of the operator, ”says ORF.at. Cold symptoms should be taken just as seriously.
For the clarification, kindergarten operators advise parents either to call the hotline 1450 or - in most cases - to have an examination at the pediatrician beforehand. In the past few weeks, many children "with banal symptoms were sent from kindergartens to be examined for the coronavirus", says the Viennese pediatrician Peter Voitl from his practice: "This is terrible. That paralyzes the whole system. ”There is not enough time in the practices for chronically ill children. It will also be difficult for the parents, because each child has an average of eight to ten colds in autumn and winter.
I don't even want to think about autumn
Pediatrician Marlies Haslinger has also seen an increase in demand over the past few weeks due to a runny nose, cough and fever. In the ORF.at interview, Haslinger says that she “doesn't want to think about autumn, when these infections become more common”. "Pediatricians are expected to rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection and receive written confirmation, but this is not clinically possible. A test is always required here, ”Tyrolean pediatrician Klaus Kapelari told ORF.at.
A pediatrician takes a throat swab from a girl in a doctor's office
Getty Images / Joos Mind
Runny nose or CoV infection? Kindergartens usually refer parents to pediatricians for clarification of this question
"Even cold children must be able to go to kindergarten," is Voitl's appeal. Because the grandparents belonged to the risk group, and if one parent takes care of several children, the virus spreads uncontrollably. Voitl: "So it is better to go to kindergarten with a cold." Especially since children are not super spreaders. The recommendations of the Ministry of Health on protective measures in kindergartens do not count runny nose as one of the symptoms that are suspected of being a CoV.
Children as CoV “brake blocks”
A recent study from the German state of Saxony shows that children are not a driver for the spread of the virus. In a study of 1,500 students and 500 teachers between May and July, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were only found in twelve people - although tests were also carried out in schools with CoV cases. "Children may even be a brake on infection," said study author Reinhard Berner from the University Hospital Dresden. It can be derived from the study that there is no explosive spread in schools in a region with low infection numbers.
Kindergarten operators made similar observations. 150 CoV tests have been carried out at the 91 KIWI locations in Vienna since mid-March. Three of them were positive: two parents, one employee and no child. The previous record of the Wiener Kinderfreunde looks similar. Out of 200 tests in around 50 kindergartens, two children and one employee tested positive. In Salzburg, 300 under six-year-olds were tested because of those affected in the family association: three percent of them were infected with the corona virus.
Closure in case of suspected CoV
However, due to the requirements of the authorities, the tests resulted in the closure of groups or entire kindergartens - until the respective test results were available. And that can currently take several days. That tugs at the nervous costumes of everyone involved: with parents who no longer have any leave or care leave. For the children who are allowed to go to kindergarten, then again not. For the kindergarten operators who want to protect themselves as best as possible due to the consequences of a specific suspected CoV and therefore in some cases want clarification from the pediatrician in the event of mild symptoms.
As soon as the kindergarten is informed about a child's CoV test, this group must be closed in accordance with the current official requirements until the test result is available. Pediatrician Haslinger sees in practice that many parents prefer to have a CoV test for a runny nose to protect themselves and "so they don't have to stay at home".
Vacation and leave of absence used up
The KIWI managing director in Vienna advocates using other criteria such as a cold wave in the area for a decision to close a group. It is crucial, however, that parents get more security, says Gerold-Siegl, and the right to a home office in the event of official closure or - if that is not possible - special leave.
Many parents have already taken leave and leave of absence. Many employers refer to the option of unpaid leave if there is a spontaneous group closure in kindergarten. In the meantime there is also a petition "Families in Crisis", which demands that the kindergarten must remain open until the test result is available. In addition, faster test results are needed. By Wednesday evening, over 2,700 people had signed the petition.
Work on rules
Some of those involved - pediatricians, parents, kindergartens - feel left alone with the problems. The call for clear guidelines from the health authorities and faster test results is loud. SPÖ education spokeswoman Sonja Hammerschmid also calls for nationwide rules, at least for schools. Classes or schools should not be closed indiscriminately and across the board, but only based on evidence, combined with a comprehensive test strategy.
The Austrian Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine advocates regular operation in schools in autumn. A closure harbors the risk of greater inequalities, especially for children from disadvantaged families. In cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the health authorities, guidelines are currently being worked on, which should apply to the new school year, according to ORF.at. At the same time, solutions for the coming weeks and autumn are being noted at the country level.
Pediatrician Voitl develops recommendations for autumn with the Vienna State Medical Directorate
A concept for educational institutions for autumn is being worked on in Vienna. And pediatrician Voitl, together with experts from the Medical Association and the Vienna State Medical Directorate, develops guidelines aimed at parents, kindergartens and pediatricians. They should be published as soon as possible. For example, according to Voitl, parents should regularly disinfect objects that are frequently attacked, such as cell phones and door clasps, “but do not lock up the children at home”. The pediatrician sends the message to the kindergartens: "Not every runny nose needs a coronavirus test." And the limited medical resources must be handled with care.
The flu wave challenge
Because in autumn and winter a flu wave is expected again - with symptoms similar to those of a Covid 19 disease. Accordingly, other federal states are preparing for these challenges in autumn. In Tyrol, for example, experts from the state work with representatives of the medical association to ensure that doctors have sufficient protective materials and that test results are available more quickly.
Salzburg wants to do without large-scale kindergarten and school closures, as was the case in Upper Austria recently, NEOS family member Andrea Klambauer told ORF.at. Until a test result is available, only individual groups should be closed in the event of a suspected case. In coordination with the State Medical Directorate, Klambauer wants to achieve a result within one day by testing pedagogues by autumn.
Tests only snapshot
Neither medical representatives nor kindergartens can gain much from NEOS 'demand in Vienna to test children of compulsory school and kindergarten age at least in the first three weeks of the new school and kindergarten year. That is a snapshot. Voitl: "If that were the case, you would have to test all winter." But kindergarten operator Gerold-Siegl is also convinced that testing is not realistic.